Taper roller lapping device and method



Ma-y 1935- r w. E. HOKE 2,002,317

TAPER ROLLER LAPPING DEVICE AND METHOD Filed Nov. 1'7, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEIV TOR M y 5- w. E. HOKE 2,002,317

TAPER ROLLER LAPPING DEVICE AND METHOD Filed Nqv. 17, 1953 z'she ets sneet 2 mum-mu ATTORNEY Patented May 21, 1935' UNlTED STATES TAPER ROLLER LAPPING DEVICE AND METHOD William E. Hoke, Baltimore, Md.

Application November 17, 1933, Serial No. 698,395

7 Claims.

This invention relates to methods of and de-mseval embodiments of the invention which are vices for lapping and finishing taper rollers of the type usually employed in antifriction bearings. The device may, however, be used for rollers of different form.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved means for lapping or finishing the surface of revolution of a number of the rollers along the elements thereof and preferably and simultaneously upon one of their end surfaces, the lapping or other finishing member employed for the surfaces of revolution being an outside cylindrical surface simultaneously axially reciprocated and also rotated upon its axis.

Another important. object of the invention is to provide resilient members acting upon the rollers being lapped or finished and forcing the rollers in one direction within their holder.

A still further object is to mount the rollers being lapped in one or more annular series in a member supported for free centering movement relative to the lapping member.

And finally it is an object to provide means to quickly unload the rollers from their holder when lapping operations thereon have been completed.

With theabove and other objects in view my invention consists in the features of construction and operation set forth in the following specifica- 'tion and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings annexed hereto and forming a. part of this specification I have shown my invention embodied in a lapping, bumishing or finishing device of simple form and having but a single circular row of rollers being lapped but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawings are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended to this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

In the drawings: v

Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional view showing one form of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a. view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of device by which the invention may be carried out; 1

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively side and top views showing a holder for the rollers being lapped, Fig. 3 being shown in developed form and in section; and

1 Figs. 5'and 6 are views similar to Figs. 3 and 4- showing a simplified form of holder.

In the above mentioned drawings I have shown now deemed preferable, but it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Briefly, and in its broadest aspect, my invention comprises the following principal parts: namely, a base supporting a holder for the rollers being lapped and for slidably supporting a lapping member; a ring member bearing against 10 and forcing the rollers against a lapping or finishing cylinder, this ring preferably being adapted to float radially of the lapping member and having 'a conical or tapered surface supporting the rollers against the member for their finishing opera- 15 tion; means to simultaneously reciprocate and rotate the cylindrical member; and means resiliently forcing the rollers in a direction so that their bases will bear against and be lapped or surfaced by a flanged member surrounding the 20 lapping cylinder, the bearing surface of which is so formed that the desired form will be given to the base surface of each of the rollers.

Referring more in detail to the figures of the drawings, I provide a base In on which is mounted 25 a flanged ring H, on the upper surface df the flange there being a work supporting holder ii. A cylindrical member l3, the outer surface of which may be charged with a suitable abrasive material, is mounted for rotation about its axis 30 and for reciprocation axially within the flanged member.

To reciprocate this member l3 a shaft H on which the member I3 is secured, at its lower end may engagea transversely slotted member I5. 35 Adisk l6 rotated upon a shaft IT has a pin 18 positioned eccentrically therein which engages within the slot of the member I5. Rotation of the shaft I1 and disk IE will therefore vertically reciprocate the cylinder I3. I

To rotate the cylinder I 3 its shaft [4 may be provided with a pulley l9 splined as shown to permit endwise movement of the shaft l4 and preferably rotatably supported within a bearing 20 within a portion of the base l0. As shown, 5 the lower end of shaft l4 and .the slotted member l5 are connected for rotation of the shaft l4 relative to the member l5. By rotation of the disk I6 and pulley l9 at appropriate speeds any desired reciprocating and rotary movement of 50 the operative surface on cylinder l3 may be obtained. During operation of the machine the rotation and reciprocation of the member l3 are continued simultaneously.

Holder 1! as shown in Fig. 1 is provided with spacing members for the rollers A retaining them with their axes inclined as shown and with an element of their surface of revolution in contact with an element of the surface of cylinder I3. Pressing against the upper or base ends of the rollers A is a flanged member 22, the end surface of which is formed to bear against the base surface and to shape it to a conical, fiat or spherical form. This member 22 is spring pressed downward by springs 23. Preferably and as shown in Fig. 1 the springs 23 are mounted upon rods 24 secured within the base 19, the upper ends of the rods having heads 25 bearing against and compressing the springs 23. Normally, therefore, the rollers A being lapped are forced downward by the member 22 into engagement with cylinder I3. To retain the rollers A uniformly against the cylindrical member I3 there is provided a fioating ring member 26, the inner surface 28 of which is bevelled to support the rollers in proper position for operation. This member 26 rests freely upon the upper surface of the base Ill and can adjust itself radially relative to the member l3 but always moves upon the fiat upper surface of the base I0. The rollers are therefore always held in proper uniformly inclined relation to the axis of the cylinder i3.

Preferably and as shown in Fig. 1 the upper end of shaft l4 extends above the member I3 and may be suitably guided by means not shown. Slidable on this extended portion of shaft 24 is a frame member 2'! which by threaded rods 28 is adjustably attached to the member 22. At the upper limit of the stroke of the cylindrical member l3 a portion 29 of the member l3 may strike the lower surface of frame member 27 and slightly raise this member against the pressure of springs 23. This upward movement of member i2'l also raises the flanged member 22 and thus relieves the downward pressure upon the rollers A. By thus relieving the pressure upon the rollers A the downward stroke of the member I3 is facilitated.

In Fig. 2 substantially the same parts are shown as above described, there being, however, a modified form of holder for the rollers A being lapped or otherwise finished. In this form of holder spring pressed plungers 30 are provided within the holder 32 extending upward to engage the lower end surface of the rollers to force them upward against the flange member 22 which is similar to that shown in Fig. 1. As shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4 the plungers 30 each extend through a vertical opening through the holder 32 and are retained in place with the spring 33 compressed by means of a nut 34 threaded into the opening from the lower end.

Preferably these spring plungers 30 are designed to lift sufficiently when flange member 22 is elevated at the completion of the operation of the machine that the rollers A are raised above the ring member 35 and therefore the rollers may drop into a circular channel 36 in the ring member 35 from which they can be readily removed. In normal operation of the machine with each slight lifting of the member 22 the spring plungers 3|! serve to free the rollers from contact with cylinder l3 as the downward stroke of the member I3 begins.

In operation the cylindrical member I3 is rotated and reciprocated by the means above described after loading the holder I2 or 32 with a roller in each of its recesses. The fiange member 22 is then lowered so that the end surface of its flange presses against the bases of the rollers A. The rotation and reciprocation of the member i3 may be varied in ratio to each other depending upon the finish desired and whether rough lapping or finish lapping or a final burnishing is being carried out. As a. final finishing operation the reciprocatory movement of the member i3 may be stopped and the rotation continued to efiect a polishing or burnishing action upon the rollers.

To accomplish extreme accuracy in the finishing of a series of rollers the alternate rollers in any series may be removed and replaced to diametrically opposite positions so that the slightly larger ones may bespaced between smaller ones and consequently brought into contact with the active surface of the cylinder l3.

In both of the sectional views of the device the holders I2 and 32 and the flange member 22 are shown as being made up of single integral members. These, however, may be segmental and joined to form complete annular holders to facilitate assembly.

In place of the spring pressed holders for the rollers shown in Figs. 3 and 4, holders of simpler form may be employed. Such a holder is shown fragmentarily in Figs. 5 and 6. In this form of holder 35 slightly tapered slots 36 are provided cut into the upper end entirely around the holder. The side walls 31 of these slots 36 are given the proper slope to properly engage and support the rollers between them for engagement with the lapping cylinder l3. As indicated in Fig. 5 the rollers are free to move inwardly or outwardly radially within the slots, the slots being of equal cross section at the outer or inner portion.

It may be desirable in some operations to limit the downward pressure upon the rollers A by-the member 22 rather than constantly force this member downward against the rollers by its springs 23. For that purpose abutments such as nuts 39 (but one of which is shown) may be ad- J'usted on rods 24 to retain the member 22 in a limited lowermost position. As the lapping or other finishing operation continues the adjustment of the nuts 39 may be varied to control the position and pressure of the rollers A against the finishing surface l3. By moving the nuts 39 a material distance away from the member 22 the springs 23 may force the member 22 downward to tightly wedge the rollers A between the cylindrical surface l3 and the conical surface of member 22.

The end pressure upon the cylindrical surface l3 on the up and down strokes will vary very greatly depending upon the abrasive used as well as the lubricant, speed of rotation relative to reciprocation, etc. Under some circumstances re lease of end pressure may be desirable when starting the downward stroke. This is accomplished by the upper end 29 of the cylindrical member [3 striking and elevating the spider 21 connected to the member 22. It will be understood, however, that under some conditions of operation, as during burnishing, no relief may be desirable in which case the device is adjusted so that no elevation of the member 22 takes place.

As a final finishing operation to bring all the rollers A being finished to the same size, reciprocation, of the member l3 may be stopped and its rotation continued at any desired speed. The lapping compound, if any, may be removed from the member l3 but applied to the base contacting surface of the member 22. The base surfaces of the rollers A will then be lapped so that they will all be uniformly finished to exactly the same ing in combination, a support, a work holder there on for an annular series of rollers to be finished,

an operating cylinder reciprocating and rotating while engaging and finishing said rollers, and a floating ring member freely movable on said support for retaining said rollers against said operative cylinder during the finishing operation.

2. A finishing device for taper rollers comprising in combination, a support, a work holder thereon for retaining a plurality of rollers in spaced relation to each other, an operating cylinder adapted to engage said rollers and effect a finishing operation thereon, means forcing said rollers into contact with said operating. cylinder, and means individually and resiliently forcing said rollers within said holder toward their bases.

3. A finishing device for taper rollers comprising in combination, a support, a work holder thereon for retaining a plurality of rollers in spaced relation to each other, an operating cylinder adapted to engage saidrollers and effect a finishing operation thereon, a floating ring member forcing said rollers into contact with said operating cylinder, and means individually and resiliently forcing said rollers within said holder toward their bases.

4. A finishing device for taper rollers comprising in combination, a support, a work holder thereon for retaining a plurality of rollers in spaced relation to each other, an operating cylinder adapted to engage said rollers and eflfect a forcing said rollers axially toward their base finishing operation thereon, a floating ring member forcing said rollers into contact with said operating cylinder, a member adjustably engaging the bases of each of said rollers during operation, and means individually and resiliently forcing said rollers within their holder toward their bases.

5. A finishing device for taper rollers comprising in combination, a support, a work holder thereon for holding an annular series of rollers in spaced relation to each other, an operating cylinder adapted to engage said rollers and effect a finishing operation thereon, means to recipro cate said cylinder, means resiliently engaging the bases of each of said rollers during operation, and means to elevate said last mentioned means adjacent the end of the stroke of said cylinder in one direction.

6. The method of finishing the surface of revolution of taper rollers comprising mounting a plurality of rollers in an annular series, supporting said rollers for engagement upon straight line elements of the surfaceof revolution thereof by an operating cylinder rotating and reciprocating relative to the rollers, and resiliently surfaces.

'7. The method of finishing the surface of revolution of taper rollers comprising mounting a plurality of rollers in an annular series, supporting said rollers in a manner permitting adjustment radially of said series, and lapping the surfaces of said rollers by contact with a reciprocating and rotating member, forcing said rollers during operation of said lapping member axially toward their base surfaces, and resiliently supporting saidrollers upon said base surfaces.

V WILLIAM E. I-IOKE. 

